Mrs. Merriwether snorted.
«The young people have no sense of responsibility. Let that blockade runner[12], Captain Butler, bring more hospital supplies[13] and less hoop skirts and lace. Captain Butler… I’m sick of the name. Now, Pitty, I haven’t time to argue. You must come. Everybody will understand».
«I think we must go», said Scarlett. «It is the least we can do for the hospital, all of us. I think I must go in the booth with Melly. Don’t you think so, Melly?»
«Well», began Melly helplessly.
«Scarlett’s right», said Mrs. Merriwether. «Both of you… all of you must come».
«Too good to be true!» said Scarlett’s joyful heart. A party! After a year’s seclusion! And she will see people and many lights and hear music!
The musicians clambered upon their platform. Then the fiddles, bull fiddles, accordions, banjos and knuckle-bones[14] began to play «Lorena». One-two-three, one-two-three. What a beautiful waltz! The hall was full of girls, girls who floated in bright dresses. There were so many uniforms in the crowd… so many uniforms on so many men whom Scarlett knew, men she had met on hospital cots, on the streets. Such handsome men!
Turning, Scarlett saw Melly. She smiled at Scarlett, whimsically.
«I’m so happy», she whispered, «and so proud of the soldiers!».
There was a deep, almost fanatic glow in her eyes. The same look was on the faces of all the women, tears of pride on cheeks, smiles on lips. Scarlett realized that she did not share with these women their pride.
Scarlett wanted to scream. She wanted to dance. Her green eyes blazed eagerly. A man who was standing in the doorway, saw them, and grinned to himself. He was dressed in black broadcloth. His hair was black, and his black mustache was small.
She stood as if paralyzed.
«Permit me», he said bending over. «Do you recall me, Miss O’Hara?»
She looked up at him imploringly. This terrible person who gave her nightmares. Rhett Butler!
«And what are you doing so far from Charleston, Mr. Butler?» said Melanie.
«A boring matter of business, Mrs. Wilkes. No wonder Miss O’Hara is faint. May I lead you to a window?»
«No», said Scarlett, so rudely that Melly stared.
«She is not Miss O’Hara any longer», said Melly. «She is Mrs. Hamilton. She is my sister now».
«Your husbands are here tonight, I trust, on this happy occasion?»
«My husband is in Virginia», said Melly. «But Charles…»
«He died in camp», said Scarlett flatly.
«My dear ladies… You must forgive me. But I’m a stranger here. To die for one’s country is to live forever».
He knows about Ashley and he knows I didn’t love Charlie, thought Scarlett. She said nothing. He leaned down across the counter and hissed:
«Fear not, fair lady! Your guilty secret is safe with me!»
There was a roll of drums and many voices cried «Sh!» as Dr. Meade mounted the platform.
«The good ladies of the hospital committee know our needs. We must have more money to buy medical supplies from England, and we have with us tonight the intrepid captain who brings us the drugs we need. Captain Rhett Butler!»
Captain made a graceful bow.
«We need more gold and I am asking you for it», the doctor continued. «I am asking a sacrifice. Ladies, the Confederacy wants your jewelry. The gold will be melted and the stones sold and the money used to buy drugs and other medical supplies!»
Scarlett was happy that mourning forbade her wearing her precious earbobs and the heavy gold chain and the gold and black enameled bracelets and the garnet brooch. She saw women, old and young, laughing, eager, tugging at bracelets, unpinning brooches from bosoms.
The grinning little man was coming to their booth now, his basket heavy on his arm, and as he passed Rhett Butler a handsome gold cigar case was thrown carelessly into the basket.
«Wait!» cried Scarlett. «I have something for you!» She threw her wedding ring into the basket.
«Oh, my darling!» whispered Molly. «You brave, brave girl! Wait, Lieutenant! I have something for you, too!»
Molly threw her own wedding ring into the basket.
«What a beautiful gesture», said Rhett Butler, softly.
Scarlett disliked him heartily.
«Why don’t you say what you really think?» he demanded. «Why don’t you say I’m a damned rascal and no gentleman? I see that you are a coward. You don’t say what you really think».
«Then I’ll say», she said. «I don’t want to see you again! You aren’t a gentleman!»
«Listen,» he said with a grin. «You just wanted to dance and have a good time and you can’t. Tell the truth. Am I not right?»
«Captain Butler», she said. «Just because you’re the ‘great blockader’, it doesn’t give you the right to insult women».
«The great blockader! That’s a joke. Blockading is a business. And the Yankees help me make my money. Last month I sailed my boat right into New York harbor and took on a cargo».
«What!» cried Scarlett. «Didn’t they shoot you?»
«Of course not. There are plenty of sturdy Union patriots who want to get some money selling goods to the Confederacy. I run my boat into New York, buy goods from Yankee, and away I go. It’s more convenient than going to England».
«And now, ladies and gentlemen, I am going to propose a surprise. But this is for the Case. The dancing is about to begin. Gentlemen, if you wish to danse with the lady of your choice, you must bargain for her. I will be auctioneer and the proceeds will go to the hospital!»
Scarlett said nothing but her eyes glittered. She’s a widow! Suddenly she heard her own name:
«Mrs. Charles Hamilton, one hundred and fifty dollars, in gold».
«Another one of our belles, perhaps?» questioned the doctor.
«No», said Rhett clearly. «Mrs. Hamilton».
«I tell you it is impossible», said the doctor testily. «Mrs. Hamilton will not…»
Scarlett cried,
«Yes, I will!»
Chapter VIII
Next morning, Pittypat was lachrymose, Melanie was silent and Scarlett defiant.
«I don’t care if they talk. I made more money for the hospital than any girl there».
«Oh, dear, what does the money matter?» wailed Pittypat. «I just couldn’t believe my eyes. Poor Charlie! And that awful Captain Butler, he’s a terrible, terrible person!»
«Oh, I can’t believe he’s that bad», said Melly gently. «He seemed a perfect gentleman and he is brave. Darling, I understand and it was a brave thing you did last night and it will help the hospital a lot. Aunt Pitty, don’t cry. We must have three convalescents in our house, like everybody else, and some of the soldiers out to dinner every Sunday. Scarlett, don’t you fret. We know you loved Charlie».
Prissy entered with a bulky letter.
«For you, Miss Melly. A little boy has brought it».
«For me?» said Melly, wondering, as she opened the envelope.
Scarlett saw a broad gold ring.
«Read it», said Melly, pointing to the. «Oh, how sweet, how kind, he is!»
Scarlett, bewildered, picked up the sheet:
«Accept, dear Madam, this token of my reverence for your courage. This ring has been redeemed at ten times its value. Captain Rhett Butler».
Melanie slipped the ring on her finger and looked at it lovingly.
«I told you he was a gentleman, didn’t I?» she said turning to Pittypat. «Aunt Pittypat, you must write him a note and invite him to Sunday dinner so I can thank him».
So Captain Butler got the invitation into Pittypat’s house.
«It is difficult for me to believe that you forgot yourself», ran Ellen’s letter and Scarlett scowled. Which of the old cats had written to Ellen? «To dance, and with such a man as Captain Butler! He is a man of bad repute. I am heartbroken. Your father will be in Atlanta on Friday, he will speak with Captain Butler and escort you home».
Scarlett was frightened. Sh
«Not… not bad news?» quavered Pittypat.
«Pa is coming tomorrow and he’s going to give me a good lesson», answered Scarlett dolorously.
«I feel ill», said Pittypat weakly. «I must go lie down. You must give him my excuses».
«I’ll help you. I’ll explain how you did it for the hospital. Surely he’ll understand», said Melly.
«No, he won’t», said Scarlett.
«He can’t take you to Tara!» said Melly. «This is your home now. What will we do without you?»
Soon Gerald arrived.
Melanie and Pittypat had gone to sleep, but Scarlett lay awake in the warm darkness. To leave Atlanta when life had just begun again! She heard some noise. Gerald was coming home. He was drunk and singing songs.
Someone was with him. She heard Gerald’s voice, «Now I’ll sing you another song. You must know it, lad. I’ll teach it to you».
«I’ll learn it», replied his companion. «But not now, Mr. O’Hara».
«I suppose I must go down», thought Scarlett. «After all he’s my father».
She unlocked the door and saw Rhett Butler. He was supporting her small father.
«Your father, I believe?» said Captain Butler.
«Bring him in», she said shortly. «Here. Now lay him down».
«I will be seeing you Sunday at dinner», he said and went out.
At five-thirty Gerald was awake. He looked up furtively as she entered. He groaned.
«Morning!»
«It’s a fine way you’ve acted, Pa», she began in a furious whisper.
«I remember nothing».
«Oh», moaned Gerald. «It happened after the game. That Butler bragged that he was the best poker player in…»
«How much did you lose?»
«Five hundred dollars», said Gerald.
«What will Mother say when she hears?»
«You won’t tell your mother a word, will you?»
Scarlett said nothing.
«Please, don’t», pleaded Gerald.
«I won’t», said Scarlett, «if you let me stay here and if you tell Mother that it was nothing but a lot of gossip from old cats».
Gerald looked mournfully at his daughter.
«It’s blackmail. Anyway, we’ll forget all that. And do you think Miss Pittypat has any brandy in the house?»
Chapter IX
The war went on. Confederate money dropped alarmingly and the price of food and clothing rose accordingly. The Yankee blockade about the Confederate ports tightened, and luxuries such as tea, coffee, silks, whalebone stays, fashion magazines and books were scarce and dear. The hospitals were worrying about the scarcity of quinine, calomel, opium, chloroform and iodine. Linen and cotton bandages were precious, and ladies who nursed at the hospitals brought home baskets of bloody strips, They washed and ironed and returned them.
But Scarlett was happy to be in the world again. She did not care if the war lasted forever. The helpless wounded succumbed to her charms without a struggle. They fell in love easily.
Scarlett was happy. War and marriage and childbirth had passed over her and she was unchanged. She had a child but she almost forgot him. She went to parties, danced, went riding with soldiers, flirted. Sometimes Scarlett went to Tara. These visits were disappointing.
Though Scarlett always went home to Tara with a happy heart, she was never sorry to return. Rhett Butler called frequently at Aunt Pittypat’s house. Rhett called whenever he was in town, escorting her to danceables and bazaars and waiting outside the hospital to drive her home. But he annoyed her frequently.
He was in his mid-thirties, older than any beau she had ever had, and she was as helpless as a child to control and handle him. He returned to Atlanta, and presented Scarlett, with overdone gallantry, a box of bonbons. Or claimed her at a dance, and she was usually amused.
Scarlett felt that he had no respect for any woman, unless perhaps for Melanie.
«I don’t see why you’re so much nicer to her than to me», said Scarlett petulantly. «I’m much prettier than she is».
«If I am ‘nicer’ to Mrs. Wilkes, it is because she deserves it. She is sincere unselfish».
One day Melanie said,
«Ashley writes me that we should not fight the Yankees. And that we are betrayed into it by statesmen and orators. He says nothing this war was just misery and dirt. He meant exactly what Captain Butler meant, only he didn’t say it in a rude way. And I don’t know what to think».
Scarlett knew that Rhett was not patriotic and she did not care. The little presents he brought her from Nassau were what mattered most to her.
One bright summer morning he appeared with a brightly trimmed hatbox in his hand and, when Scarlett was alone in the house, he opened it. There was a very nice bonnet in it!
«Put it on», said Rhett, smiling.
She flew across the room to the mirror and plopped it on her head.
«How do I look?» she cried.
«Oh, Rhett, whose bonnet is it? I’ll buy it».
«It’s your bonnet», he said.
«How much is it?» she asked suddenly.
«About two thousand dollars. It’s a gift».
She laughed.
«You are a clever, black-hearted wretch, Rhett Butler, and you know very well this bonnet’s too pretty to be refused. But Rhett, you mustn’t bring me anything else so expensive. It’s awfully kind of you, but I really can’t accept anything else».
«Indeed? Well, I shall bring you presents so long as it pleases me. And I warn you that I am not kind. I never do anything without reason».
«And what do you expect to get from me?»
«Guess».
«Well, if you think I’ll marry you to pay for the bonnet, I won’t», she said.
«Madam, you flatter yourself, I do not want to marry you or anyone else. I am not a marrying man».
«Indeed!» she cried. «I don’t even intend to kiss you, either».
«Oh, Scarlett, you are so young», he said. «And I shall kiss you, as you expect it», and leaning down carelessly, his mustache just grazed her cheek.
She burst into laughter.
The next day, Melanie ran in, her face was flushed and frightened. There were tears on her cheeks.
«Oh, Scarlett!» she cried. «I was talking to that that woman with red hair, named Belle Watling!»
Belle Watling was the most notorious woman in town. Many prostitutes had come into Atlanta, following the soldiers, but Belle stood out above the rest.
«What did she want?»
«I was walking home. And when I went by the Emersons’ yard, there she was, behind the hedge! She had some money and she wanted me to take it and use it for the hospital. I was so upset and anxious to get away, I just said: ‘Oh, yes, indeed, how sweet of you’ or something idiotic, and she smiled and said: ‘That’s right Christian of you’ and shoved this dirty handkerchief into my hand».
Melanie held out a handkerchief, in which some coins were knotted.
«Let’s see how much money is in here. It feels heavy», said Scarlett.
She untied the knot and a handful of gold coins rolled out on the bed.
«Scarlett, there’s fifty dollars here! And in gold!» cried Melanie.
But Scarlett was not listening. She was looking at the dirty handkerchief. There was a monogram in the corner in which were the initials «R. K. B». In her top drawer was a handkerchief just like this, one that Rhett Butler had given her only yesterday to wrap about the stems of wild flowers. She had planned to return it to him.
So Rhett came to that Watling and gave her money. Oh, men were so vile, and Rhett Butler was the worst of them all! She crumbled the handkerchief in her hand, and went down the stairs to the kitchen. As she passed the stove, she shoved the handkerchief into the flames.
Chapter X
Scarlett, Melanie and Miss Pittypat sat in front of the Daily Examiner office in the carriage. They wanted to learn the first news of Ashley. Somewhere Ashley was fighting, perhaps dying, and the newspaper office was the only place where she could learn the truth.
The first casualty lists[15] were posted.
«Read it», whispered Melly. Scarlett read and her voice shook.
Oh, how long the list was! Three «Tarleton» names on that list. «Tarleton Brenton, Lieutenant; Tarleton Stuart, Corporal; Tarleton Thomas, private». And Boyd was buried somewhere in Virginia. All the Tarleton boys gone.
Sxarlett could not read any more. The boys with whom she had grown up, danced, flirted, kissed were on that list.
As the Christmas season approached, Ashley came home on furlough. Scarlett was frightened. Her emotions were sharpened by her long dreams of him. This Ashley Wilkes in his faded, patched uniform was a different man from that boy she had loved before the war. He stood in his old uniform, his pistol in its holster, Major Ashley Wilkes. Her same handsome Ashley, yet so very different.